Disposition of Business - Amounts Related to eLong in Consolidated Results of Operations (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	5 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	May 22, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Pre-tax gain on disposal of business		$ 0	$ 508,810	$ 0
eLong, Inc
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation and intangible amortization	$ 20,000			17,000
Disposal Group, Not Discontinued Operations | eLong, Inc
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Operating loss		0	(85,536)	(50,757)
Income (loss) before taxes		0	438,843	(40,535)
Income (loss) before taxes attributable to Expedia, Inc.		0	465,400	(25,078)
Net income (loss) attributable to Expedia, Inc.		$ 0	349,183	(27,119)
Stock-based compensation and intangible amortization			20,000	$ 17,000
Pre-tax gain on disposal of business			508,810
Gain on disposal of business, after-tax			$ 395,000